Malware

Malware (a <a href="/facts/Portmanteau/d124JEbz">portmanteau</a> of malicious software) is any <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a> intentionally designed to cause disruption to a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a>, <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">server</a>, <a href="/facts/Client_(computing)/u0wlVsWI">client</a>, or <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">computer network</a>, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, deprive access to information, or which unknowingly interferes with the user's <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">computer security</a> and <a href="/facts/Privacy/C269YalS">privacy</a>. Researchers tend to classify malware into one or more sub-types (i.e. <a href="/facts/Computer_virus/IyTC1usq">computer viruses</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_worm/9qKR1Hx5">worms</a>, <a href="/facts/Trojan_horse_(computing)/FVqh3nDy">Trojan horses</a>, <a href="/facts/Logic_bomb/btrj2258">logic bombs</a>, <a href="/facts/Ransomware/muT4jcxj">ransomware</a>, <a href="/facts/Spyware/NrVdv1by">spyware</a>, <a href="/facts/Adware/wbS8pyAQ">adware</a>, <a href="/facts/Rogue_software/Aubqdgfm">rogue software</a>, <a href="/facts/Wiper_(malware)/UNnd2LrP">wipers</a> and <a href="/facts/Keyloggers/DQRJfEvc">keyloggers</a>).
Malware poses serious problems to individuals and businesses on the Internet. According to <a href="/facts/NortonLifeLock/uWvBqako">Symantec</a>'s 2018 Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), malware variants number has increased to 669,947,865 in 2017, which is twice as many malware variants as in 2016. <a href="/facts/Cybercrime/cSyaFF96">Cybercrime</a>, which includes malware attacks as well as other crimes committed by computer, was predicted to cost the world economy US$6 trillion in 2021, and is increasing at a rate of 15% per year. Since 2021, malware has been designed to target computer systems that run critical infrastructure such as the <a href="/facts/Electricity_infrastructure/F5NfTeWP">electricity distribution network</a>.
The defense strategies against malware differ according to the type of malware but most can be thwarted by installing <a href="/facts/Antivirus_software/GGMqsfkJ">antivirus software</a>, <a href="/facts/Firewall_(computing)/Et2RkJaU">firewalls</a>, applying regular <a href="/facts/Patch_(computing)/sIHVBPls">patches</a>, <a href="/facts/Network_security/09f8YxwD">securing networks</a> from intrusion, having regular <a href="/facts/Backup/ldV72CkU">backups</a> and <a href="/facts/Quarantine_(antivirus_program)/8fdrHUez">isolating infected systems</a>. Malware can be designed to evade antivirus software detection algorithms.

Malware open-in-new

Malware